Process for applying iodine to diseased and injured portions of the body



v H. C. HARDING. z PROCESS FOR APPLYING IODINE T0 DISEASED AND INJUREDPORTIONS OF THE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I3. i918. RENEWED JAN. 14, 1922.

:1 A26 633 a Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

UNHTED "YATES FATENT 1,426,633. Application filed December 13, 1918,Serial No. 266,553.

HENRY C. HARDING,

RUTHERFORD, OF CHICAGO, IIILINOIS.

PROCESS FOR APPLYING IODINE 'IO DISEAS ED AND INJURED PORTIONS 0F TEE'BODY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. HARDING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Processes for ApplyingIodine to Diseased and Injured Portions of the Body, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a process for applying iodine to diseased orinjured portions of the body. Iodine has important medicinal propertiesand is of great therapeutic value. It is an important germicide. It isordinarily applied to the affected parts, in a liquid form, as asolution, the most common solution being that formed by dissolvingiodine in alcohol. When thus used the affected part is painted with thesolution and the alcohol quickly evaporates and the iodine is left orprecipitated and produces a discoloration at the place where it isapplied, which lasts for days.

When used as a solution in alcohol only a comparatively small amount ofiodine is dissolved and when the alcohol evaporates most of the iodinestays on the surface and is not absorbed and cannot therefore beutilized. Another defect of suchsolution is that. it cannot be,frequently applied, but can be applied only at considerable intervals,due to its irritating qualities.

My invention has among other objects to provide a process of applyingiodine which will obviate these defects and by means of which it can beapplied in full strength and in such a form that it will be rapidlyabsorbed so that at the end of a few minutes there will be nodiscoloration and which will also permit it to be applied at frequentintervals without injuring the skin. or tissue, the application of theiodine being under complete control so that it may be easily andefliciently applied to any desired part.

I have illustrated in the drawings one form of apparatus for carryingout my process wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of such apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a view showing a modified construction of the discharge end ofthe apparatus;

Fig. i

one form of is a view showing a further modi- Spccifica tion of LettersPatent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1922. Renewed January 14, 1922. Serial No. 529,370.

fied construction of the discharge end of the apparatus.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

The apparatus illustrated comprises a re ceptacle 1 for containingportions of the iodine in solid form. Thisreceptacle should. be made ofmaterial which will withstand corroding action of the iodine such forexample as copper. It is provided with an opening through which theiodine is inserted, the opening being closed by a suitablecover or cap2. Some suitable means is provided for heating this receptacle so astoconvert the iodine into a gas or fume. Any suitable means may be usedfor this purpose such for example as a flame of any kind. For purposesof illustration I have shown an alcohol lamp 3, the flame 4 of whichheats the receptacle 1. Some suitable means is provided for directingthe fume or gas to or upon the part to be treated.

As'herein shown I provide .means for passing an air currentthrough thetop of the receptacle, which air current carries the directed upon thepart affected.

In the construction shown the receptacle is provided with a pipe 5 whichcommunicates with the top of the receptacle. An air moving device suchas the elastic bulb 6 is connected with this pipe and is arranged sothat when the bulb is squeezed, air is passed through the pipe 5 andthrough the top of the receptacle, A pipe 8 is also connected with thetop of the receptacle, preferably at the other side thereof, and thispipe is preferably connected with a flexible pipe 9. The pipes 5 and 8may bemade of rigid ma terial such as metal. Pipe 9 may be made offlexible material such as rubber. I may use the apparatus shown in Figs.1 and 2 to carry out the process. As it is, I may if I desire attach tothe end of the pipe 9 a nozzle 10 as shown in Fig. 3 having a contractedbent end 11, or I may simply use a straight nozzle 12, as shown in Fig.1, having a contracted discharge end 13.

In carrying out the rocess I place the iodine in a solid form in thereceptacle 1. The receptacle is then closed and heat applied to it so asto convert the iodine into a fume or gas. The end. of the tube 9 or whennozzles l 0 'and 12 are usedtthe contracted ends 11 and13 thereof are plac ed in proximityto the surface to whichv it'is desir'ed to apply theiodine, the bulb 6 is then alternately compressed and relaxed, and afume or gas is driven from receptacle 1 through the tubes 8 and 9, andwhen the nozzles are used, through the nozzles 10 and l2 and directedupon the place to which it isdesii ed"-to" apply the iodine. The fume orgas strikes the surface, where the iodine is to" be applied and theiodine ih its pure form is rapidly absorbed, thus thoroughly comihgintocon'tact with theparts aifec't'ed or with the tissues in proximitythereto and is then absorbed into. the bloodi It will thus be seen" thatthe application of the iodine ismade underfull contrel; M

The" fumes is'mixed with a current'vo'f' air and this mixed air andiodine fume is forced, by haviiig power applied thereto, to

thephint of useso'that it strikes the surface to be treatedtthej iodineadhering thereto.

VVhen the particles of iodine are heated inthis receptacle they arefirst melted and thfenconvertedinto a fiiihe or gasand it' is this fumeorgas that, by the controlled a r plieation, is applied to the surfaceupon which the iodineis to be used. When thus applied e'the surface tobe treated is covered with the pureiodine and becomes discolored for afew minutes, the becomiiig'f rap idly absorbed and thediscolorationentirely disappearing in a short time; I have found that when appliedinthismannerthe efiec tithe a 'c'ti'oii of the iodine greatly multipliedand its possibilities greatly increased. The iodine when th'us u sed canalso be applied repeatedly I after short intervals of time withoutleaving any'dis'coloratienand without irritating the skin or membrane.

This canhot be done with the alcohol solnt-ion'for with suchsolution theapplicat'iens as eiilyte after long intervals of time, as' 1 1e irritating effect prevents freqiient applieations and the discolorationThe small amount of iodine actually absorbed when suchsoluti'on is usedso limits theaction ast'o prevent the: iodine from hein'g' eifectiveinmany cases where re-' reflects are 'produee'd when iodine is applied inits pure state in accordeas es ancewith this invention, such 1a 1s: ii1thetreatment of a goiter, eczema, scrofula, acne and other skindiseases, tonsillitis, catarrh, and various other diseases, runningsores, cuts, bruises and wounds. The iodine acts as a disinfectant andvitalizes the tissue, at the same time. It will thus be seen that theinvention has a large and varied adaptability and use.

By""converting the iodine intoa fume and' mixing it with air as hereinset out it can be used in cavities of the Body where it would beimpossible to use an"io'dine' solution.

I clainiz- 1; The process of applying iodine'to diseased or injuredparts of the body which consists in taking the'iodine in a" solid form,converting it into a fume, and'while i n'this form mixing it with acurrent of air: and forcing the inixedair and iodine efu'rne against thesurface to be treatedse that the iodine condensed thereon.

2. The process of applying io diiie togdiseased or injured parts of thebody wines consists in taking the iodine ina solidffo r'in, heatingitsufliciently to convert it intoa' fume, then forcing this fum'efiii acontrolled manner to the point wh'mit is to he as; plied so that it willstrike the'surface to he treated and be 'condeii sed thereonl A v Theprocess of applying iodiiie'to dis eased or injured parts of thehodywhich. consists in taking the iodihein a solid form; heating ituntilit'rhelts and further heating it until it is converted into afiiiii'efthen mixing the fume with a" relatively "small current of airsufhcieiit to cariy the along with itandthen forcing this current; ofair and iodine fume'in a relatively small stream to the point of use"and'th'en releasing the air aiid the iodine fuiheso thatthe' airseparates therefrom and the ibdineis deposited upon the surface to whichit is to be applied. V

I In testimony whereof, I aflik my signature in the presenceof twowitnesses this 5th day of December, 1918.

, HENRY C. HARDING;

Witnesses: p

ED'NA B. Pn'riiiisorr, 1 MARiiiN' INGiiAfiAiir'.

